Container washing machine



April 93 A. HOLMQUIST 1,997,792

CONTAINER WASHING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1 1935. A; H LM IST 1,997,792

CONTAINER WASHING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Z v if 1 "U6; 9 Z W I Ifi. m

z I. I i I I I I 1 16 3 I 5 I 6 x5 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE 1,997,192 commawssnmc moms Application May 19, 1932, Serial No. 612,313

6 Claims. (01. 1417) This invention relates to an aparatus for washing cans, bottles or various other types of con tainers'and is especially adapted to the washing of the commercial open end cans known as Sanitary cans.

During the shipment and storage of the cans of commerce theycome into contact with dust and dirt of various kinds so that itis highly desirable that they be washed and cleansed before food products are placed therein.

In the operation of canning machinery certain speeds of operation are desirableand necessary 7 in order to take care of each day's oncoming products, so that any device for washing cansmust be such as will handle the cans fully as fast as other machines in the factory, and in order to do this successfully the machine must essen tially be continuous in operation.

It is also desirable in a machine for this class of work that the operation be reduced to its sim-'- plest' expression so that no complicated mechanism becomes necessary and that the moving elements are simply and substantially made.

A general outline of the construction of this .jcan washer contemplates a rotary carrier enclosed a substantially water tight housing; means for feedinrcan's 'successivelyto'the rim of the rotary carrier; means positioned in a groove in the bed of the rotary carrier for spraying cleansing liquid into the cans which are positionedon the rotary carrier in an inverted position; means for removing the cleansed cans from the rotary carrier; means for driving the rotary carrierwhereby the drive may be applied from any desired ,angle;. means for controlling the operative speed of the rotary carrier to suit factory conditions and the speeds of associated machines as well as other features that will be referred to in the specification following.

It is therefore an object to provide a machine for washing containers wherein the containers are moved continuously and in succession through the machine. It is'a further object of the invention to provide a machine for washing cans wherein the cans are washed in an inverted position so that they will be self draining and the residue washed therefrom will fall away by gravity assisted by the washing liquid.

;It is also an object of the invention to provide a washing device having liquid spray for projecting liquid into the inverted cans to remove ad-: hering debris.

.It is also an object of the invention to provide a washing device wherein the spray means is housed ina groove below the level of the can support. on the rotary carrier and the cans are moved over it during the spraying operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine for washing containers wherein the drive means may be swung around a half circle relative to the machine so that power can be applied. from any desired direction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a means of drive wherein the speed of the machinemay be regulated to suit any factory conditions and speed of operation.

' With such objects-inview-as wellas other ad- ,7

vantages which may be inherent. in theinvention, it is understood that the several necessary elements, parts and combinations constituting the same may be varied in their proportions, placement and general arrangement withqut depart- H ing from the scope and natureof the'invention.

in order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings, somewhat diagrammatically, means and mechanism for placing the same in concrete form, without limiting the improvements to the particular construction shown.

Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 taken on approximately the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the discharge chute.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the spray device.

The numeral I represents the housing, supported on suitable legs 2. The housing I comprises the top shell section and a base section 3, the base section carrying a depending central hub I in which is securely positioned a short vertical shaft 5, on the lower end of which is a friction drive disc 6, and on the uppen-end of which is'positioned the washing rotary carrier I. Positioned on the huh I is the drive supporting bracket 8, carrying the drive shaft 9, the friction pinion II), the adjusting block H, the adjusting screw I2 and the'drive pulley l3. The bracket 8' is revoluble about an arc of 180 degrees as is indicated by the dotted line on Figure 1 'so that the machine may be connected to power from any desired angle. when the drive is set to r the desired position the bracket 8 is locked in position by the set screw I l impinging on the rim l5 of the base member 3.

The washing rotary carrier 1 has an annular groove I 6 in which is positioned the spray pipe I], which extends nearlyaround the entire circle. The pipe ll enters at ll Fig. 1 and ends at 19. The pipe hasperforations 2| along its'surface positions on the rim of the rotary carrier 1 'where of 'therotary carrier is regulated to suit the speed to form the sprays for projecting the cleansing liquid into the cans.

2| represents the feeding chute which is psitioned substantially centrally of the machine so as not to consume space outside thereof. The cans are given a quarter twist as they enter their for removing the accumulated spray liquid from said housing.

3. An apparatus for cleansing cans comprising a rotary carrier for conveying cans through a predetermined path, means for positioning cans on said rotary carrier with the open ends down, a groove in said rotary carrier under said positioned cans, and stationary spray-means in said groove out'of contact with said cans for projecting cleansing liquid into the inverted cans to cleanse them.

4. An apparatus for washing cans or the like comprising 9. rotary can'ier, means for driving the rotary carrier, means for feeding cans successively to said rotary carrier, said rotary carrier including a circular rim for supporting the cans with their open ends down, means for guiding cans onto said rotary carrier rim and maintaining them radially adjusted thereon, an annular groove in said rim, a spray pipe located in said groove out of contact with the cans supported by the rim and held against movement, means conveying washing material to said spray pipe and means for removing washed cans from said carrier.

5. An apparatus for washing open end cans or the like, comprising a closed housing with a central top opening, a rotary carrier within said housing and means for feeding open end cans 26 bolted to the side of the housing I. By manipt said rotary carrier through the said central ulating the hand crank 21 on the adjusting screw top opening i aid housing a d d iti th i2 the friction pinion it will be traversed acrgss op d-d w w id on th i r aid m the io dimfiind h Y y D carrier, a groove in said rotary carrier rim open at the top, a stationary spray pipe located in said groove out of contact with the cans on said rim, means entering said casing to convey washing solution to said spray pipe between the inlet and discharge points for the cans, means for rotating said rotary carrier and means for disthey stand open end down as they are advanced over the stationary spray pipe II. The cans are subjected to the cleansing action of the sprays for nearly a complete circle, or substantially the length of the pipe i1, and are swept on the rotary carrier by the arm 22 and tipped into the chute 23 which conveys them to further use in the canning line. 24 represents the cans, and for clearness only two are shown, and at the left of Figure 2 is clearly seen how the spray jets enter the open ends of the inverted cans and thoroughly cleanse the interiors which, on account of being inverted are self draining. The accumulation of cleansing liquid is conveyed from the machine by the pipe 25 and may. if desired lead to a tank and screening device to be used over again, or if plain water is used it may be conveyed to the drain so that each can is washed with clean unused water which would be supplied by a suitable pump to give the necessary pressure to produce sprays of sufllcient intensity to do eillcient cleansing. The pipe I! is held in position by the bracket with which cans must be delivered -to the other machines in the canning lines.

In order to hold and maintain the cans in position on the rotary carrier rim guide rails 28 are provided held in place by suitable hangers 29.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for washing containers comprising in combination, a housing, a rotary carat a point removed from the inlet.

6. An apparatus for washing open end cans or the like, comprising a closed housing having a rier in said housing, an annular groove in the central top opening, a rotary carrier positioned face of said carrier, means for positioning coni aid housing d having a flat 1 t suptainers on said carrier over said groove, a sp ay port open end cage with their/open ends downpip having a fixed suppo t a d p y P sitioned ward, a curved can chute entering the central in said groove outof contact with the positioned top opening of said housing and delivering cans containers on said carrier and adapted to proradially to the flat rim of said rotary carrier, ject spray against said containers to'cleanse the a can discharge device adjacent said delivery same, with means for removing said containers chute for removing washed cans from the outer from said carrier. edge of said rotary carrier rim, a groove in said 2. An apparatus for washing cans comprising rotary carrier rim, a stationary spray pipe posiin combination, ahousing, arotary carrier in said tioned in said groove, a solution conveying pipe housing, a vertical shaft carrying said rotary carrier, means for giving rotation to said rotary carrier, means for positioning cans with open ends down on said rotary carrier, a groove in said rotary carrier below the can level, a stationary spray means in said groove to project cleaning liquid into the cans thereabove and means housing at a point between the placing of cans on said turret rim and the discharge of cans from said rotary can'ier rim, and means for rotating said rotary carrier.

AU GUST HOLMQUIST.

charging washed cans from said rotary carrier.

connecting with said spray pipe through said 

